Week 10 of the 2023 CFL season has arrived, bringing with it a slate of relatively wide spreads. Calgary is looking to claw back in the West Division, the Redblacks are looking to get back to their winning ways against the potentially Chad Kelly-less Argos, and Cody Fajardo is looking to beat his former team while fighting through a shoulder injury.
3DownNation contributors JC Abbott and Santino Filoso remain two games ahead in our picks straight-up, while Filoso has been tied by Joel Gasson in our picks against the spread.
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Thursday, Aug. 10: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Edmonton Elks — 9:00 p.m. EDT
The Edmonton Elks have finally made a quarterback change following the demotion of offensive coordinator Stephen McAdoo, naming Tre Ford as their starting quarterback. The second-year Canadian passer went 1-2 as a starter last season, though he suffered an injury early in one of those losses. He’s faced with a tough task this week as the Blue Bombers are coming off a huge win over the B.C. Lions, though Winnipeg has struggled to defend against mobile quarterbacks at times this season.
DUNK: Tre Ford creates energy for Edmonton and problems for Winnipeg.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: ELKS.
HODGE: Unless Tre Ford runs for 200 yards, Edmonton has no chance.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
ABBOTT: Tre Ford’s 4.4 speed ain’t enough to win, but it is enough to cover.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: ELKS.
BALLANTINE: People I’ve spoken to who watch the Elks regularly aren’t expecting much more from Ford, which is a bad sign for Edmonton.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
FILOSO: Tre Ford instantly makes the Elks better, but Winnipeg is still Winnipeg.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: ELKS.
GASSON: Edmonton will get a coaching change bump but is it enough against one of the best teams in the league?
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: ELKS.
GRANT: The Elks are coming off a bye with their most dangerous quarterback now at the helm and Winnipeg just crushed their only competition in the West. I smell an upset.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
HOSKINS: Edmonton’s changes give them a bump but they’re still playing one of the most dangerous teams in the league. I’ll say they keep it closer than expected.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: ELKS.
KLEIN: This could be a letdown spot for Winnipeg after last week’s big win, but they could suffer a massive letdown and still be better than Edmonton.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
MCGUIRE: How is the betting line only 12.5 points? Chris Jones is setting Tre Ford up to fail.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
SMITH: Tre Ford, Dee Ford, Ford Bronco. Winnipeg by a million.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Winnipeg 10, Edmonton 1
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Edmonton 6, Winnipeg 5
Friday, Aug. 11: Saskatchewan Roughriders at Montreal Alouettes — 7:30 p.m. EDT
Cody Fajardo threw for 10,631 yards, 48 touchdowns, and 32 interceptions over three seasons with the Riders, though he was unceremoniously dumped by the team this past off-season when they elected to replace him with Trevor Harris. The veteran passer will be a game-time decision due to a shoulder injury, while his old team is coming off a short week after beating the Redblacks at home in Week 9.
DUNK: Cody Fajardo wants to show Saskatchewan what they’re missing.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
HODGE: Cody Fajardo exacts revenge against his former team.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
ABBOTT: Cody will be sprinkling something very different over the Riders in this game.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
BALLANTINE: Montreal at home and a fired up Fajardo bring the immortal words of Gary Stern to mind: “Alouettes win!”
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
FILOSO: Montreal is better than people are giving them credit for.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
GASSON: Mason Fine is finding his groove but travelling to Montreal on a short week is never fun.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
GRANT: Fajardo won’t allow Montreal to lose this game but Saskatchewan is good enough to make it close before running out of gas.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
HOSKINS: Saskatchewan is on a short week and Fajardo wants to make a point. Home team finds a way.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
KLEIN: All Saskatchewan does is play close games. I think they keep this one close and pull out another late win.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
MCGUIRE: If Montreal wins, Maas and Fajardo will feel like they’ve won the Grey Cup. Despite the short week, I like the visitors.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
SMITH: If there’s one game Cody Fajardo will get up for this year, it’ll be this one.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Montreal 9, Saskatchewan 2
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Montreal 8, Saskatchewan 3
Saturday, Aug. 12: Calgary Stampeders at B.C. Lions — 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Stampeders ended a short losing skid last week with a surprising win over Toronto and suddenly have a chance to climb within four points of second place in the West Division. The Lions will likely have Vernon Adams Jr. back under centre following a two-game absence, though that remains unconfirmed. These two clubs met way back in Week 1 with the Lions coming out victorious by a score of 25-15.
DUNK: The Stampeders are still not good.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
HODGE: A wounded lion is a dangerous lion.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
ABBOTT: Vernon Adams Jr. is back like he never left.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
BALLANTINE: Let’s make things even more interesting.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
FILOSO: B.C. will be looking to prove a point after being embarrassed last week.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
GASSON: The Lions should be playing mad.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
GRANT: B.C. would beat any team in the league at home this week after being embarrassed in Winnipeg. I expect this to be a blowout.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
HOSKINS: Calgary’s riding high after the win last week but B.C. will bring them back down to earth.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
KLEIN: Calgary didn’t have to deviate from plan A at all last week. The Lions won’t give them that luxury this week.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
MCGUIRE: The Stampeders are improving and I’m not sure the Lions are.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
SMITH: Calgary pulled off an upset last week but they won’t repeat the feat.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: B.C. 9, Calgary 2
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: B.C. 9, Calgary 2
Sunday, Aug. 13: Ottawa Redblacks at Toronto Argonauts — 7:00 p.m. EDT
Toronto looked pathetic after Chad Kelly left last week’s game due to an ankle injury, a far cry from the team that finished the first third of the season with a perfect 6-0 record. It remains unclear if Kelly will play this week, though Cameron Dukes and the rest of the team will have to do a better job of executing if his remains out. Meanwhile, the Redblacks have come crashing back down to earth following back-to-back losses to middling teams.
DUNK: Toronto gets a bounceback win — if Chad Kelly starts.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
HODGE: If Chad Kelly plays, Toronto covers easily.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
ABBOTT: I don’t care who’s at QB, Toronto’s defence is too good for Dustin Crum.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
BALLANTINE: Toronto will be looking to reassert themselves as top dogs.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
FILOSO: Crum and company will face tough sledding against Toronto’s defence, but Ottawa’s good at keeping things close.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
GASSON: The Crumgic is over. Toronto should cover either way, easily if Chad Kelly plays.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
GRANT: Good teams that get embarrassed generally respond well at home the next week. Kelly’s health is a big factor but Toronto has found many ways to score this season.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
HOSKINS: Toronto won’t lose back to back games, so Ottawa’s in tough going into The Six.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
KLEIN: I don’t see this Argos team dropping back to back games against lesser competition. They should roll here.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
MCGUIRE: Ottawa has struggled against the worst and thrived against the best, which is why I’m picking them to win this one.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
SMITH: If Kelly plays, and I think he will, this line is a gift.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Toronto 10, Ottawa 1
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Toronto 9, Ottawa 2
Records to date (straight-up)
ABBOTT — 25-10
FILOSO — 25-10
GASSON — 23-12
GRANT — 23-12
SMITH — 23-12
KLEIN — 22-13
MCGUIRE — 22-13
DUNK — 21-14
HODGE — 21-14
HOSKINS — 21-14
BALLANTINE — 20-15
Records to date (against the spread)
FILOSO — 22-12-1
GASSON — 22-12-1
KLEIN — 21-13-1
BALLANTINE — 19-15-1
GRANT — 19-15-1
ABBOTT — 18-16-1
SMITH — 18-16-1
HODGE — 17-17-1
MCGUIRE — 16-18-1
HOSKINS — 15-19-1
DUNK — 14-20-1
